10 Most Important Davidson Basketball People of All Time

Davidson College has had a pretty rich basketball history despite the fact that most people only know of the school because of its Elite 8 run in 2008 and it being the launching pad for the career of the illustrious Lefty Driesell.

But from Davidson's historic 1960 upset of Wake Forest in Lefty's first season to the Southern Conference dominance of the 2000's, the Wildcats have had their share of important people, from players to coaches, involved in their basketball program.

10. Derek Rucker

Derek Rucker was Davidson's best player in one of its worst decades. Graduating in 1988, Rucker was a two-time Academic All-American and led Davidson to its only NCAA Tournament appearance of the decade in 1986. Rucker ranks fourth all-time with 1,952 points and his 250 steals are tops in the Davidson annals. His No. 11 jersey hangs in the rafters in Belk Arena.

Rucker also led a distinguished career as a professional player in Australia where he played for more than a decade.

9. Terry Holland

Terry Holland was the first recruit of Lefty Driesell and he went on to be a 1,000-point scorer before graduating in 1964. Holland became an assistant coach under Driesell and later was named head coach in 1969 after Driesell left for Maryland. Holland led Davidson to the NCAA Tournament in the 1969-1970 season. Many years later, Holland became Davidson's athletic director and hired current head coach Bob McKillop.

He is most likely known for stints as the athletic director at Virginia and East Carolina, a post he currently holds.

8. Jason Richards

Jason Richards graduated in the first class of Davidson basketball players to reach a postseason tournament every year that they played. He led the nation in assists his season year and sits tops above the all-time career assist list in Davidson history (663). Richards will forever be remembered for his performances in the 2008 NCAA Tournament when he scored most of his 20 points in the first half against Georgetown, when tallied 13 assists and no turnovers in Davidson's Sweet 16 win over Wisconsin and when he took the final shot against Kansas in the Elite 8.

7. Dick Snyder

Dick Snyder is sixth in Davidson's all-time career scoring list and was a charter member of Davidson's athletic Hall of Fame. He led Davidson to its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1966 and was a first-team All-American. Upon graduating, Snyder was a second round pick in the NBA draft. His No. 10 jersey is retired.

6. Fred Hetzel

Fred Hetzel ranks third on Davidson's all-time career scoring list and is one of only two players to have both 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in a career. He was named All-American for three years from 1963-65 before graduating and being selected as a first-round pick in the NBA draft, the first ever from Davidson. He was a charter member of the Davidson Hall of Fame and his No. 44 jersey is retired.

5. John Gerdy

John Gerdy was Davidson's all-time leading scorer with 2,483 points before being surpassed this February by Stephen Curry. Gerdy was named All-America in 1979 and would often outscore all of his teammates combined during games at Davidson. He was a third-round NBA draft pick and is a member of the Davidson Hall of Fame and his #33 jersey is retired.

4. Mike Maloy

Mike Maloy was a three-time All-American and led Davidson to three straight NCAA tournament appearances, including Elite 8 appearances in 1968 and 1969. He is most famously the only Davidson basketball player to ever grace the cover of Sports Illustrated and remains the school's all-time leading rebounder.

3. Lefty Driesell

Lefty Driesell came to Davidson with visions of making it a basketball powerhouse. He did that nearly immediately when he upset powerhouse Wake Forest in his first game as coach in 1960. He went on to lead Davidson to multiple Top 10 national rankings, three NCAA tournament appearances including two trips to the Elite 8. His recruiting classes included three All-Americans and his great teams rivaled the talent and success of Dean Smith and North Carolina from down the road. His vision for basketball success legitimized the program and made Davidson a national name for nearly a decade.

After leaving Davidson in 1969, Driesell went on to an illustrious career at Maryland. He has been enshrined as a member in the Basketball Hall of Fame.

2. Stephen Curry

Stephen Curry is Davidson's all-time leading scorer and the national record holder for most three-pointers in a season. He led the nation in scoring in 2009. He led Davidson to an Elite 8 appearance in 2008 and joined elite company by scoring at least 25 points in his first five NCAA tournament games. He was named as All-American in his sophomore and junior years and was a Wooden Award finalist in 2008. He was also nominated for an ESPY as 2008's Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.

If he stays at Davidson for a senior year, Curry will be on pace to break J.J. Redick's national record for three-pointers in a career and could wind up as the NCAA's second leading scorer behind Pete Maravich.

1. Bob McKillop

(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Imag

Bob McKillop is Davidson's all-time winningest coach with 367 wins over 20 years at the helm. He is a seven-time SoCon Coach of the Year and won the NABC Coach of the Year Award in 2008. McKillop has graduated 65 of 65 seniors and made five NCAA tournament appearances and four NIT appearances. His players have come from fourteen different countries and played in professional leagues around the globe.